One in 10 smartphones end up in the washing machine, new research has revealed. Batty Brits also mistakenly wash money, keys, headphones and jewellery on a regular basis, according to a survey by laundry experts Dr. Beckmann. Of the 2,000 people quizzed about their washing woes, younger Brits suffer the most mishaps with 16% of 18 to 30 years olds admitting to machine-washing their phone in the past three years. Fortunately, as we get older we get wiser, with only 8% of people in their 40’s making the same mistake.

Results revealed that 45% of the phones that have gone for a soapy spin were uninsured, costing Brits over £15M a year in replacements.

Not only are the soggy phones costing Brits money to repair and replace, but they’re also causing damage to washing machines, with 10% of Brits having to splash the cash to repair their machine following a run in with a smartphone.

Brits are equally as dozy when it comes to laundering other household items. Six in every 10 (62%) Brits have put our car keys into our washing machine. A further 83% of us are money launderers, regularly deep-cleaning cash in the washing machine.  And if you’re ever missing an earing, make sure you check your drum, as 20% of Brits have put their jewellery through a spin cycle.

Dr Beckmann spokesperson, Susan Fermor, said: “As a nation, we’re practically glued to our phones, so we were really surprised to hear that so many end up in the wash.

“The reason behind the younger generation being the biggest ‘phone washers’ is due to their ‘immediate’ washing habits; they’ll generally wash everything at once, including taking off the clothes they’re wearing at the time and putting them straight into the washing machine – with their phone in a pocket.
 

“The older people get the more methodical they are with their washing habits – so items are carefully placed in a washing basket and checked before going into the machine, thus avoiding quite so many washing disasters. Our advice – check your pockets before you wash”.

But while deep cleaning a smartphone might be the most inconvenient laundry-related mistake, they aren’t the only costly things to mistakenly go through the wash.

Among the other most commonly mistakenly laundered items are:

- Car keys (62% Brits have washed)

- Money (84% Brits have washed)

- Jewellery (20% Brits have washed)

- Headphones (11% Brits have washed)

And while there isn’t an app for laundered smartphone, if the worst does happen then it could well be salvaged by putting it in a bowl of uncooked rice overnight to soak up the moisture.